Independence Day

We celebrated the fourth by going down to the river and camping. The water has been so high all year I never even knew this bank was here. Just down the river in full view of this spot is a train trussle and a few trains go by throughout the day wich Joey absolutely loves! It's funny to think that this boy was almost impossible to get into the bathtub a year ago and now you cannot get him out or away from the water. Here you can see our dog waiting for a boat to pass by so she can chase the waves.

We also did some fishing and wouldn't you know it, not only did I catch a fish but I caught the only fish. (That one's for the girls team Nan) This is a gar and yes I am completely petrified of this fish. I don't know something about it's razor sharp teeth kind of freaks me out. I am actually standing there begging Jon to hurry up and take the picture so I can get the darn thing out of my hands already! We think that was about a 15 to 20 lbs. fish. Out of the dozen times we've been fishing this is only the 3rd fish I've caught, all the rest have been little tiny nothings. YAY for me!

The 3rd of July

Ft. Stewart celebrated all weekend with a free carnival. Joey hated the rides and I was too hot but it was nice. They also threw a free concert. The two featured arstists were Ashanti, wich we were more than happy to pass up, and Trace Adkins. I couldn't help but wish I had Dylan with me when he started singing "Honkey Tonk Badonkadonk".

Joey had a small amount of fun dancing with the other kids in our group (after he lucked out on some funnel cake). But for the most part he was cranky and tired. The concert didn't start until 8:30 and it just got too late for him.

But no matter how late it got he is just like me and as soon as those fireworks started he was a whole new boy. The excitment on his face every time one went off was wonderful and made the whole day of cranky worthwhile.

(I have no clue what that light is behind me but doesn't it look like a huge fire we're all just ignoring?)

It's a Girl!!

Okay so we don't officially know for a few more weeks, but I have been absolutely positive about this fact since I found out a new little one was busy cooking. Well today just topped it off for me

Jon and I were in the store and as I was dropping off a prescription a cute little old black man comes up and started playing with Joey. At one point he looks at Joey and says "Now what are you going to name your little sister?" Jon, who has been standing a little off to the side enjoying watching the man playing, has now walked over and the man turns to him and says "So what are you planning on naming your daughter?" At this point I have finished handing in my prescription and walk over. Now please know I have heard none of this conversation so all of what is said to me I think Jon has told him. I walk over he takes my hand and once again says, "So what are you going to name your daughter?" Slightly confused but figuring Jon has told him I have my heart set thinking it's a girl I spout off a name that I have really grown fond of the past few weeks. He then takes Jon's hand looks at me and says, "you know twins run in his family?" I still have no idea that Jon and him have not even discussed me being pregnant, although I did think it was weird that this has come up. We both give him an odd look but say yes we knew at this point the man goes to walk away but touches my shoulder and says but not this time. Meaning not twins this time. Which truly has been a question in Jon and my head. Now I want to you all to know that all though I have increased in size considerably I am not big enough for strangers in stores to realize I'm pregnant, and the shirt I was wearing more than covered what does show all the way up. Oh, several times during this conversation the man stated, "I'm just telling you what the holy spirit tells me." What a truly incredible experience this was. Mom and I had just been talking this morning and she had asked me if next Monday (I have an ultra sound) I would find out the sex of the baby. I said no it was too early but it was a girl. There was absolutely no doubt in my mind it was a girl. What a way to have it all confirmed. It is an experience I think Jon and I will always remember.
Oh on a side note we had the wonderful opportunity to hear the babies heart beat today.

Hooray It's Gone!

Well we decided to put all our extra hands to work and get this darn porch out once and for all. They were even able to save this top piece for a planter box (after a great idea from Steph).

Now we have one big sand area great for kids. The next big step will be to pour concrete for a nice porch.

Of course this is what you get when you send the kids outside with the big boys. Note the dog running around the outside of the kennel.

House Guests

We have some guests foor the next couple of days. They are alot of fun especially for Joey who is not only happy to have a stay in best friend but a live baby to take care of. (yes he still loves to take care of babies like he did with Baby Suzie)

This is Montana (Tana)

This is Chet (3 weeks old)

Hard at Work

Joey and Tana decided to clean the bathroom for me. Yes this is clorox, Tana may look innocent but she was just as much a culprit. Notice the clorox handprint on the couch behind her.

The epitimy of comfort

I mean really? Could you actually find the comfort in this? I love catching him in little moments like this.

Bigger and bigger

This is me at just 10 weeks! My due date is Jan. 12, 2010. I can't believe how big I'm getting so quick. This was what I looked like at about 6 months with Joe. My first doctors app. is next week so please keep your fingers crossed this isn't twins!

Little by little and wouldn't you know

S o we've been spending the majority of our free time playing at the river or the ocean, instead of doing our chores. But tonight after mowing the front lawn Jon went around back and decided to try mowing the weeds. And wouldn't you know it we have a lawn under those 6 foot bushes. Obviously it still needs to be raked but it looks so nice. We will be having some guests stay over the next few weeks with a two year old daughter, it will be very nice for them to be able to run around in the back yard.



(These pictures are of Jon spraying raid on the flies in the back yard)(hahaha)

I was completely shocked to find that Wal-Mart sells fireworks so I just had to buy a few sparklers. This is us teaching Joey about safety and fun with fire. Oh the troubled webs we weave. Hopefully he can understand it well enough so when we go buy big fireworks next week we don't have big issues. OH I LOVE THE SOUTH!

Alright guys just one more

While mowing the yard Jon found this. So of course we had to go get Joey out of bed.

He wouldn't touch it but loved seeing it. Besides this and alot of spiders and ants we also found a gigantic turtle wandering through one time as well.

Bubble time

Joey got a bathtub bubble maker. It has really increased bathtime fun.

The Hose Holder...Beware

I had originally wanted to make this blog just to point out that the previous owners really did put our hose holder on the back fence. How convienent. But having the inquisitive mind that I have and noticing that the holder had a little door, I just had to open it up.

I don't know how well you can see these, but when I opened the door, thousands of ants swarmed out. This was the outside in a matter of seconds.

And of course the inside after thousands hit the ground.

Getting work done

We were able to spend the evening getting some work done in the back yard. Joey was a great help and had alot of fun.

I think he'd had the most fun, though, when we turned it into one big water fight.

The pen fight

Jon, Joey, and I got into a pen fight, Joey lost.

Bad Kitty

I think this picture speaks for itself. So much for the deep clean I did 20 minutes before this.

New Baby

Jon and I found out two weeks ago that we are going to have a baby. This puts me at about 6 weeks. It's amazing to me how in just this short time I already feel so different than I did while prego with Little Joe. It seems to me that my body is going backwards than it did with him. With Joe I didn't get morning sickness until the 2nd and 3rd trimesters, this time I'm feeling it pretty brutally now. I never had cravings with Joe, this time I want chocolate rice milk!!! Jon and I had to get on the internet to find who sold it but luckily it is sold in our town. and lastly with Joe my mood swings never started until the very end when I was absolutely done with being pregnant. This time I'm a little bomb just waiting to explode. I haven't actually gotten angry or out of control, just alot of hurt feelings for no reasons. Jon is a good sport about all of it.
Jon is praying for a boy but not only do I think I'd lose all sanity with another little crazy running around I think womens intuition is telling me girl. Although the test for gnder is still 3 months away I will be taking bets on what the family thinks. These of course will be added to the baby book.
Jon and I are, however, in definate disagreement on names. Will someone talk some sense into him that Hunter for a girl, however very cute, might get her slaughtered in school? okay actually it's starting to grow on me. But please oh please get him to realize the Gunner Maximus is NOT the coolest name anybody has ever heard!

Tuesday, Tuesday or is it Wednesday already

Well everybody will be excited to hear I quit smoking. This household is however feeling the full blow of it. Both Jon and the roomate are in full support of me and have also put down there smoking habits (at least any time they're around me). I appreciate this more than either of them will ever fully understand.
Morning sickness decided to hit with a vengeance this morning and lucky for me Little Joe is feeling under the weather himself. His temperature spiked at 102 last night. As soon as I noticed it I dosed him with Tylenol and Jon and I got the most precious of illness moments, cuddle time on the couch. This didn't last long. Joe was asleep by 6 and slept 14 hours straight! At about 8 o'clock this morning I finally said enough and pulled him out of bed to watch Cars with me. His fever has been going up and down from 100 today with out medicine. So needless to say with both of us feeling not so our bests we have claimed today sick day and pulled a nice blanket out to watch movies and cuddle on the couch all day.
(if I could find my camera you would have some cute pictures of the couch fort but seeing as how it is MIA...)

Our family is ever increasing. Here is the latest update on who we have roaming around our house.

We'll start with Fred Bear, our ever beloved turtle. Jon found him "struggling" for life out on the Altamaha river. Unfortunately he was probably doing better there than he ever did here. Joe loves to feed him and watch him swim around his tank

Next we have Butch Cassidy and the Sundance kid. These two were the last of about 12 unused bait fish from a weekend on the river. I made Jon bring them home instead of just releasing them and 3 days later these two were the only two to survive. Sadly Sundance died shortly after this picture was taken

This is the new puppy, Rogue. We allowed our roommate to get this under the circumstance that he buy me a kitten. It worked out well for me. Rogue is an excellent addition to the family and provides our older puppy an excellent mate. She is a black lab, I'm not sure if she is a mix or what she would be mixed with.

This is Delilah, named after a song that is special to Jon and I. (I must admit I really only picked this picture because my tummy looks fit in it) This is the kitten I made the roommate buy me. She will grow up tough between the two puppies and Joey who refuses to set her down. It has become a slow process teaching him not to carry her around by her neck, but he is learning and is doing a great job as her big brother.

This is my Daisy. She was by all means the hardest to get a picture of. She originally was placed in our backyard as a present for Jon's friends wife, but 6 months later he still had not taken her and I said enough. This dog needs a home, she needs love. Since then she has become a much loved member of our family. She is a blue healer and an extremely smart dog. Still desperate for love and approval she works hard to please and obey us. I believe she is about 10 months old and one of the best behaved puppies I have ever met.

Next up is Shawn O'Hearn. He is Jon and my adopted son. He is the driver of the Bradley that Jon is gunner of. A kid who is very easy going and fun to be around we are glad to add him to bunch.

Of course the rest of us need no introductions but we are all a part of the family. I took this picture of my little copy cat this morning. Can you see what he is doing? Yes, Joey is shaving his armpits. He also shaved my face and shoulders for me. Don't know who he sees shaving their shoulders...

And last but not least the happy couple. This is my favorite picture of us. We are on the boat fishing the Altamaha.

Aww, so nice of you to stop by my house. There are actually a few rooms clean so we'll take a little tour in minute. The room to the far side is Joe's room. The next room in is the "spare room", which is being used by our room ate Shawn or more often known as O'Hearn. Next in of course is the front door and then our garage. Pretty self explanatory there.

As you walk in our house and the first thing up is our living room. I am actually taking this picture from the hallway. Our front door is on the other side. There's Little Joe playing at our multi-functional table with his cars. This table is used as our foot rest, dining table, game table, and most often our clutter table. We are lucky to have large windows that let plenty of light in. Although I do often wish that these were the windows in the front of our house, and the bedroom windows faced out back. All of the bedroom windows in our house face out to the front, even our bedroom window looks almost right on top of the neighbors front porch.

Just to the left of the living room is our kitchen. Our cabinets on the right side have no doors, we actually prefer it this way, it helps the kitchen to feel a little more open. Straight back is our pantry.

Currently these are the only rooms in my house that are clean but come again soon and I'm sure I'll be able to show you the rest of the house. We can how ever step out back real quick and take a look out there.

Our back yard is a work in process. I have been busy weeding, if you look closely in the picture to the far left you might be able to see my work. the middle picture I mostly just wanted to show what our backyard looks out on. This is is some type of aviary wildlife conservation area. In lamens terms it is a swamp. The picture to the right show the porch we are ripping out to lay a concrete porch. I will keep updates on all the progress, as slow as it might go, back here.

Well thanks for stopping by, as I said the other rooms should be picture worthy soon so I will give you another tour.